Gasolene-indicator.



I. W. McBRIDE & 0. H. SHADE.

GASOLENE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20 1917.

, 252,91 2. w I Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

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IRA. W. MCBRIDE AND ORA H. SHADE, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GASOLENEJNDICATOB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 's, 1918.

Application filed March 20, 1917. Serial No. 156,077.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, IRA IV. MCBRIDE and ORA H. SHADE, citizens oftheUnited States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGasolene-Indicators; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in indicating devices andparticularly to devices for indicating the gasolene level in automobiletanks.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and simpledevice of this character which is adapted to be rigidly applied to anyof the ordinary gasolene tanks now in use on automobiles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device whichwill display a signal, visible in the day time or at night, to thedriver, when the level of the gasolene in the tank has reached apredetermined point.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile showing theposition of my invention in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the hue H of Fig. 2.

F ig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the wirin of the device.

Ileferring particularly to the accompanying drawing 10 represents avertical tubular casing which is provided with the apertured cars 11through which are engaged screws 12, for securing the device to theframe 13, adjacent the tank 13' of the automobile. In the lower end ofthe tubular casing there is formed an externally threadednipple 14 forattachment of a pipe 15 for conveying gasolene from the tank to thecasing 10. The upper end of the casing is externally threaded to receivethereon the internally threaded flange 16 of a cap 17, this flange beingspaced inwardly from the periphery of the cap. Disposed on the upperface of the cap is a disk of insulation 18, the same being secured tothe cap by means of the bolts 19 and 20 located outwardly of the flange16. The former bolt 19' is surrounded by an insulated bushing member 21,where said bolt passes through the top of the cap, whilethe latter isnot thus insulated, but metallically connects therewith. Carried by theupper end of the bolt 20 is a spring finger 23 which has its free enddisposed over, but normally out of contact with the head of the bolt 19.The peripheral edge of the cap 17 is threaded-for the engagement of an.internally threaded cap 24 which completely covers the parts mounted onthe cap 17. The sides of the cap 24, above the flange 18 is formed withopenings 25. \Vithin the tubular casing, and resting on the surface ofthe gasolene therein, is a cork float 26. Secured to this float, andextending upwardly through an opening 27, formed centrally in the cap 17and disk 18, is a rod 28, the upper end of which is formed with an eye29 carrying I therein an insulated bushing 30, for the reception of theintermediate portion of the spring arm or finger 23.

It will thus be seen that as the fioat rises and falls with the gasolenein the tubular casing, the spring finger will be lifted and lowered bythe rod of the float, and that when the level of the gasolene reaches avery low point the finger will touch the head of the bolt 19.

Mounted on the dashboard of the automo bile, adjacent the casing 10 isan electric lamp bulb 31 preferably redin color. This lamp is connectedto the magneto 10', of the automobile, by the wire 32, while the othergrounded at 34, in the usual manner, while the bolt 20 is similarlygrounded through the wire-35.

It will thus be seen that when the finger 23 touches the head of thebolt 19 a circuit will be completed through the magneto, the bolt 21,the finger 23, and the grounds, whereby the lamp 31 will be lighted forthe purpose of'showing that the level of gasolene, in the tank, is low.This lamp can, of course, be seen in the daytime, but is more especiallyuseful at night where the dashboard is not provided with electriclights.

The length of the rod 28detcrmin es the level of the gasolene at whichthe circuit will be closed, and it will be understood that when thelevel of the gasolene is proper, the lamp will be held in extinguishedcondition due to the fact that the finger 23 is held out of contact withthe head of the bolt 19.

What is claimed is:

A circuit closer for electrical indicators comprising a vertical casinghaving a pipe connection at its bottom, a cap having a 'flan'ge spacedfrom its periphery and threaded upon the upper end of the casing, acontact member engaged through the cap outwardly of the flange,insulating material between the contact member and the cap, a springswitch finger secured to the cap at one end outwardly of the flange bymeans of an electrical connection at a point diametrically opposite thecontact member, said spring finger extending over the contact member, arod loosely engaged through the cap within the inclosure of the flangeand connected with the spring finger, a float carried by the rod withinthe casing, and a second cap in threaded engagement with the peripheryof the first cap and inclosing the spring finger and the contact member.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures, in the presence of twowitnesses.

IRA W. MCBRIDE. ORA. H. SHADE. Witnesses:

ALISON M. MCBRIDE, ALIDA K. MCBRIDE.

